College of the Canyons is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Santa Clarita, California. It enrolls 15,832 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
82/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes67
Value97
Affordability54
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for College of the Canyons.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending College of the Canyons isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $3,702 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$3,702
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
18%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
1%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$1,166
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$10,958
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,968
Total Cost of Attendance
$11,360
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$2,522
$30,001 – $48,000
$3,075
$48,001 – $75,000
$4,980
$75,001 – $110,000
$7,406
Over $110,000
$9,240
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$3,00025%percentile
$9,612Medianpercentile
$12,00075%percentile
$22,26790%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $7,375
↓ $2,237
No Pell $5,250
↓ $4,362
Dependent students $4,729
↓ $4,883
Independent students $9,500
↓ $112
Female students $7,500
↓ $2,112
Male students $5,500
↓ $4,112
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($9,612), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
10% of full-time students who enrolled at College of the Canyons graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
10%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered College of the Canyons earn a median of $49,022 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,022
Earning > $25K
70%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$40,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$52,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$42,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$49,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,100, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
20.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 77% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
College of the Canyons is home to 15,832 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students, 66% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
15,832
Part-Time
66%
First-Generation
51%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 52.1%8,241
White 25.7%4,064
Asian 8.7%1,373
Black 5.8%920
Other 4.4%692
International 0.7%104
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at College of the Canyons. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbSanta Clarita, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
41%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
College of the Canyons offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
65 distinct programs across
28 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at College of the Canyons is 24:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
24:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,848
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$3.3M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$123,054
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
237 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
237
100%
$123,054
Pros & Cons of College of the Canyons
A quick at-a-glance summary of how College of the Canyons tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, College of the Canyons is a fit for
families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about College of the Canyons
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about College of the Canyons.
How much does College of the Canyons cost?
The average net price after aid at College of the Canyons is $3,702 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is College of the Canyons worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,022 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $3,702 per year. That's roughly 13.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is College of the Canyons known for?
College of the Canyons is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Social Sciences, Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do College of the Canyons graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering College of the Canyons are $49,022, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is College of the Canyons accredited?
Yes. College of the Canyons is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend College of the Canyons?
College of the Canyons enrolls 15,832 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at College of the Canyons?
College of the Canyons graduates 10% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is College of the Canyons a public or private college?
College of the Canyons is a Public institution.
Where is College of the Canyons located?
College of the Canyons is located in Santa Clarita, California.
What programs does College of the Canyons offer?
College of the Canyons offers 65 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Social Sciences, Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at College of the Canyons?
The student-to-faculty ratio at College of the Canyons is 24:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Rankings That Feature College of the Canyons
College of the Canyons appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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90 UCD Score
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93 UCD Score
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90 UCD Score
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$480 Lowest Net
$78,988 Top Earn
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93 UCD Score
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$480 Lowest Net
$93,610 Top Earn
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93 UCD Score
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